endless summer hydrangea blooms in pink and blue

Deciduous shrub with repeat bloom in pink or blue (depending upon soil pH).

Moist, but well-drained soil.

Plant in partial shade; prune lightly as needed in summer.

Most cold tolerant H. macrophylla blooming on new and old wood.

Height: 3-6 feet

Width: 3-6 feet

Hardy in USDA zones 4-9

Zones 4-5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; water regularly in dry spells during growing season. Apply extra mulch after the first hard frost and avoid contact with salt. This plant may bloom later in this zone than in warmer climates.

Zone 6: Plant in spring or very early fall; apply mulch after the first hard frost. This plant may delay blooming after late frosts. Water regularly in dry spells during growing season.

Zone 7: Plant in early fall; apply mulch in fall. This plant may delay blooming after late frosts; water regularly in dry spells during growing season.

Zones 8-9: Plant in early fall; water regularly in dry spells during growing season.

Fragrant Judd Viburnum

fragrant judd viburnum has scented snowball blooms

Viburnum x juddii or Fragrant Judd Viburnum is known for its pinkish-white fragrant snowball flowers.

Viburnum x juddii or Fragrant Judd Viburnum is known for its pinkish-white fragrant snowball flowers.

Deciduous shrub noted for its pinkish-white fragrant snowball flowers in mid spring and red to black fruit in fall.

Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in partial to full shade. Apply extra mulch after first hard frost and avoid contact with salt. May be marginally hardy in this zone; deciduous in this zone.

Zones 6-9: Plant in spring; plant in partial to full shade; water when dry.

Fox Red Curly Sedge

fox red curly sedge has brown spike flowers

Carex buchanii or Fox Red Curly Sedge has a brown flower that spikes in summer.

Carex buchanii or Fox Red Curly Sedge has a brown flower that spikes in summer.

An evergreen ornamental sedge with orange-brown foliage, which is curly at the ends.

Brown flower spikes in summer.

Plant in full sun to partial shade.

Plant in rich, reliably moist, but not wet soil.

Height: 20-30 inches

Width: to 36 inches

Hardy in zones (5) 6-9

Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade. Mulch after first hard frost to avoid winter heaving and avoid exposure to salt. May be marginally hardy in this zone requiring extra protection if container grown.

Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade; mulch in fall.

Zones 7-9: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to partial shade; mulch in fall.

Hardy Begonia

hardy begonia has large heart shaped leaves

Begonia grandis or Hardy Begonia has large heart-shaped leaves.

Begonia grandis or Hardy Begonia has large heart-shaped leaves.

A perennial with large heart-shaped leaves and pink flowers in fall.

Plant in partial to full shade.

Plant in rich, moist, but well-drained soil.

Height 24 inches

Width: 15 inches

Hardy in USDA zones 6-10: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in partial to full shade; mulch in fall.

Common Periwinkle

Gardener's Note: Common Periwinkle can be invasive in warmer climates.

common periwinkle is a spreading groundcover

Vinca minor or Common Periwinkle has blue flowers in spring and summer.

Vinca minor or Common Periwinkle has blue flowers in spring and summer.

An evergreen spreading groundcover with blue flowers from spring to summer.

Plant in full sun to moderate shade.

Can be invasive.

Plant in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil.

Water regularly until established; prune to keep in bounds in early spring.

Height: 4-8 inches

Width: to infinity

Hardy in zones 4-9

Zone 4: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade. Mulch after first frost to prevent winter heaving. Remove mulch in spring and avoid exposure to salt. May suffer some foliage damage in extreme cold weather.

Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade. Mulch after first frost to prevent winter heaving. Remove mulch in spring and avoid exposure to salt.

Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to partial shade. Prune hard in early spring to keep in bounds.

Zones 7-8: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in light to partial shade. Prune hard in early spring to keep in bounds.

Zone 9: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in light to moderate shade. Prune hard in early spring to keep in bounds.

Mardi Gras Coral Bells

Mardi Gras Coral Bells has variegated leaves

Heuchera 'Mardi Gras' or Coral Bells has multicolored leaves.

Heuchera 'Mardi Gras' or Coral Bells has multicolored leaves.

An evergreen to semi-evergreen perennial with variegated leaves of coral, orange, green and gray.

White flowers on stems above the foliage in spring.

Plant in partial to full shade.

Plant in moist to dry, but well drained rich soil.

Fertilize in spring as new foliage appears.

Height: 14-16 inches

Width: 15-18 inches

Hardy in USDA zones 4-9

Zones 4-5: Plant in spring; plant in partial shade. Mulch after planting and again after first hard frost to prevent heaving. Avoid contact with salt and water during dry periods. Remove tattered foliage in spring as new foliage appears and pull mulch away from crown in spring.

Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in partial to medium shade. Mulch after planting and again in fall and water during dry periods. Remove tattered foliage in spring as new foliage appears and pull mulch away from crown in spring.

Zones 7-9: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in partial to full shade. Mulch after planting and again in fall. Water during dry periods and remove tattered foliage in spring as new foliage appears. Pull mulch away from crown in spring.

Spicebush

spicebush has bright green yellow leaves

The female Lindera benzoin or Spicebush has red berries in the fall.

The female Lindera benzoin or Spicebush has red berries in the fall.

A large deciduous shrub with bright green leaves and greenish yellow flowers before the leaves in the spring.

Female plants produce showy red berries in the fall.

Plant in light to partial shade.

Plant in loose, moist rich soil; is not drought tolerant.

Fertilize in spring as new foliage appears.

Height: 6-12 feet

Width: 6-12 feet

Hardy in USDA zones 4-9

Zone 4: Plant in spring; plant in light shade. Mulch after planting and again after first hard frost to prevent heaving. Avoid contact with salt and water during dry periods.

Zone 5: Plant in spring; plant in light shade. Mulch after planting and again after first hard frost to prevent heaving. Avoid contact with salt.

Zones 6-7: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in light to partial shade. Mulch after planting and again in fall and water during dry periods.

Zones 8-9: Plant in early fall; plant in light to partial shade. Mulch after planting and again in fall and water during dry periods.

Hosta 'Sum & Substance'

sum and substance hosta needs lots of space

Hosta 'Sum & Substance' is known for its beautiful foliage.

Hosta 'Sum & Substance' is known for its beautiful foliage.

A large, herbaceous perennial noted for its chartreuse leaves and pale lilac flowers in summer.

Grown primarily for its foliage.

Plant in partial to full shade in moist, but well-drained soil; needs space.

Fertilize in mid spring with water-soluble fertilizer.

Water to establish and then when dry.

Divide, if needed, in spring when new growth appears.

Height: 30-36 inches

Width: 36-72 inches

Hardy in USDA zones 5-10

Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in partial to full shade. Prune away foliage and apply extra mulch after first hard frost. Avoid contact with salt.

Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in partial to full shade. Prune away foliage and apply mulch after first hard frost.

Zone 7: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in partial to full shade. Prune away foliage and apply mulch after first hard frost.

Zone 8: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in partial to full shade. Prune away foliage and apply mulch after first frost.

Zone 9: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in partial to full shade. Prune away foliage and apply mulch in late fall.

Zone 10: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in partial to full shade. Prune away unsightly foliage when necessary and mulch to conserve moisture.